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Plant Profile

Washington Polemonium (Polemonium pectinatum)

Polemonium pectinatum has beautiful pink flowers. Photo Credit: Jim Barrett
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Polemoniaceae
  • State: WA
  • Nature Serve ID: 156567
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/25/1988
Description:

According to the Endangered Species Act, rare plants found on private land are not required to receive specialized protection. Landowners are not required preserve an endangered plant's habitat. This is cause of concern for Polemonium pectinatum, an herbaceous perennial endemic to eastern Washington. Of the 35 extant occurrences, 25 are found on private land (Gilbert 1998). Polemonium pectinatum is considered a Species of Concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is listed as Threatened by the state of Washington. Even if this species were listed as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, only 10 populations would be officially protected by law. The unique and starkly beautiful scabland habitat is under continued threat from agricultural conversion and urban development, and consequently so is Polemonium pectinatum. Only by combining the efforts of the federal government, conservation organizations, and most importantly, the local landowners, can the future of this rare and beautiful plant be ensured.

Where is Washington Polemonium (Polemonium pectinatum) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Polemonium pectinatum grows along creek terraces, mid-slope depressions, the banks of seasonal creeks, and coulee floors in the arid to semi-arid shrub-steppe zone of eastern Washington at elevations of 1500 to 2300 ft (460-700 m). Associated species include Crataegus douglasii, Amelanchier alnifolia, Elymus cinereus, Rosa woodsii, and Ribes aureum.

Distribution:

WA: Eastern Washington in the Columbia Basin (Whitman, Lincoln, Adams Counties).

States & Provinces:

Washington Polemonium can be found in Washington

Which CPC Partners conserve Washington Polemonium (Polemonium pectinatum)?

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

  • 09/23/2020
  • Genetic Research

Evaluation of genetic diversity between populations of Polemonium pectinatum. Researchers found high allelic diversity for 6 polymorphic loci. They also found that heterozygosity and within population variation were not near Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (Gilbert 2001), indicating that inbreeding may be occurring.

  • 09/23/2020
  • Propagation Research

Germination studies using old seed (over 5 years old) were conducted at The Berry Botanic Garden. One set of seeds was subjected to 8 weeks of cold stratification followed by placement in either constant 68F (20C) or alternating 50/68F (10/20C). Another set was not cold stratified before placement in the two different temperature regimes. 60% of seeds that were cold stratified germinated, regardless of temperature regime. 100% of seeds that were not cold stratified germinated, regardless of temperature regime (BBG File).

  • 09/23/2020
  • Propagation Research

Germination studies using 3 week-old seed indicate that a period of moist, cold stratification is required for successful germination (Gilbert 1998).

  • 09/23/2020
  • Genetic Research

Genetic analysis utilizing isozymes (protein analysis) and microsatellites (SSR). Little to no variation was found using isozyme markers.

  • 09/23/2020
  • Demographic Research

Data on population structure, seed production, seed germination, and plant survival and growth were analyzed using a transition matrix model to study population dynamics. The effect of herbicide spraying and weed pulling was analyzed (Gilbert 1998).

  • 09/23/2020
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

Seed from 3 sites stored at The Berry Botanic Garden (BBG file).

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

A Washington State endemic with a total range of about about 1010 ha. Although the total number of surviving occurrences is greater than 20, these are effectively small, isolated sub-populations, rather than true populations. While some populations have been lost due to conversion to agriculture and due to grazing practices, there appear to be significant amounts of suitable habitat which are not currently occupied. The taxon appears to have disappeared from portions of its historic range in the Palouse grasslands of Spokane and Whitman counties.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Loss of habitat due to agricultural conversion (WNHP 1999). Grazing (WNHP 1999). Habitat domination by non-native weeds (Gilbert 1998). Hydrology changes (depth to groundwater) due to wells, pumping from creeks, and creek channelization and divers

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

An estimated 18,000 total individuals in 35 occurrences. 25 occurrences are on private land, 9 are on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and 1 is on a railroad right-of-way managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The 9 BLM occurrences account for an estimated 8,000-10,000 individuals, half of the total (WNHP 1999). Populations range in size from as few as 3 to more than 2000 (WNHP 1999).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Community ecology: Gilbert (1998) studied community composition, physical soil components, and soil chemistry of Polemonium pectinatum habitat. Demographic monitoring. Data on population structure, seed production, seed germination, and plant survival and growth were analyzed using a transition matrix model to study population dynamics. The effect of herbicide spraying and weed pulling was analyzed (Gilbert 1998). Genetic analysis utilizing isozymes (protein analysis) and microsatellites (SSR). Little to no variation was found using isozyme markers. Results from microsatellite analysis suggests that inbreeding may be occurring at all sampled locations (Gilbert 1998). Germination studies using 3 week-old seed indicate that a period of moist, cold stratification is required for successful germination (Gilbert 1998). Germination studies using old seed (over 5 years old) were conducted at The Berry Botanic Garden. One set of seeds was subjected to 8 weeks of cold stratification followed by placement in either constant 68F (20C) or alternating 50/68F (10/20C). Another set was not cold stratified before placement in the two different temperature regimes. 60% of seeds that were cold stratified germinated, regardless of temperature regime. 100% of seeds that were not cold stratified germinated, regardless of temperature regime (BBG File). Evaluation of genetic diversity between populations of Polemonium pectinatum. Researchers found high allelic diversity for 6 polymorphic loci. They also found that heterozygosity and within population variation were not near Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (Gilbert 2001), indicating that inbreeding may be occurring.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Seed from 3 sites stored at The Berry Botanic Garden (BBG file). Development of a ""Conservation Strategy"" (Gilbert 1998). Proposed re-introduction near Pine Creek or Rock Creek sites (Gilbert 1998). A portion of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land has been designated as an Area of Critical Ecological Concern (ACEC). Polemonium pectinatum habitat is protected in the ACEC. Prior to being designated as an ACEC, grazing was allowed on the land (in Gilbert 1998). Stream bank stabilization within the ACEC (Pam Camp, BLM in Gilbert 1998). Selective herbicide treatments to destroy invasive weeds within the ACEC (Pam Camp, BLM in Gilbert 1998).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Study response of Polemonium pectinatum to fire (WNHP 1999). Study effect of flooding on Polemonium pectinatum (WNHP 1999). Study potential deleterious effects of inbreeding on short-term population vigor (Gilbert 2001) . Demographic monitoring of grazed and ungrazed areas (Gilbert 1998). Federal agencies and conservation groups should work to obtain permission from private landowners to manage Polemonium pectinatum populations, as many populations are on private land. Quantify how dry conditions, weeds, and grazing effect populations (Gilbert 1998). Analyze breeding system (Gilbert 1998).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Collect and store seeds from across the species' range. Determine propagation and reintroduction protocols.

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Nomenclature
Taxon Polemonium pectinatum
Authority Greene
Family Polemoniaceae
CPC Number 3559
ITIS 31022
USDA POPE14
Duration Perennial
Common Names Washington polemonium | Washington Jacob's-ladder
Associated Scientific Names Polemonium pectinatum
Distribution WA: Eastern Washington in the Columbia Basin (Whitman, Lincoln, Adams Counties).
State Rank
State State Rank
Washington S2
Ecological Relationships

Photos

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